ID :
165875
Fri, 03/04/2011 - 16:06
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/165875
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S. Korea Urged to Send Back Detained Inhabitants of DPRK
Pyongyang, March 4 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Central Committee of the Red Cross Society of the DPRK issued the following statement as south Korea's notice that it would not send back the drifters of the DPRK:
31 inhabitants of the DPRK had been adrift in the sea due to the dense fog while gathering shellfish in the waters of its side off Yonphyong Island in the West Sea of Korea. South Korea has held them in custody for nearly one month since Feb. 5. Moreover, it informed the DPRK that it would not send back four of them.
In the meantime, the DPRK side strongly demanded the south Korean side send back without delay all the detained inhabitants and their boat on several occasions, but it refused to do so, claiming each time they are under "investigation".
Moreover, it resorted to "a defection operation", taking them to different places. It pressured them to remain in south Korea by appeasement, deception and threat.
Most of the inhabitants now detained in south Korea are housewives with their little children left behind and so their families are now eagerly waiting for them to safely return home as early as possible.
The issue of sending back all the inhabitants is a matter related to human rights and a humanitarian issue and, at the same time, it is an important issue related to the north-south relations.
31 inhabitants of the DPRK had been adrift in the sea due to the dense fog while gathering shellfish in the waters of its side off Yonphyong Island in the West Sea of Korea. South Korea has held them in custody for nearly one month since Feb. 5. Moreover, it informed the DPRK that it would not send back four of them.
In the meantime, the DPRK side strongly demanded the south Korean side send back without delay all the detained inhabitants and their boat on several occasions, but it refused to do so, claiming each time they are under "investigation".
Moreover, it resorted to "a defection operation", taking them to different places. It pressured them to remain in south Korea by appeasement, deception and threat.
Most of the inhabitants now detained in south Korea are housewives with their little children left behind and so their families are now eagerly waiting for them to safely return home as early as possible.
The issue of sending back all the inhabitants is a matter related to human rights and a humanitarian issue and, at the same time, it is an important issue related to the north-south relations.
